Bowling alley dressing oil applicator



Sept. 29, 1964 D. MITCHELL 7 BOWLING ALLEY DRESSING OIL APPLICATOR Filed May 31, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvroa DAN/EL. MTCHELL.

Arm/way Sept. 29, 1964 n. MITCHELL BOWLING ALLEY DRESSING OIL APPLICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31, 1961 mmvrm fiA/V/EL. Mme 51.1,

United States Patent 3,150,497 B'BWLlNG ALLEY DRESSKNG GIL Daniel Mitchell, 2522 Honolulu Ava, Montrose, 3ii Filed May 31, 1951, Ser. No. 1 45,4311 it? Claims. (1. -529} This invention relates to the art of applying dressing material to smooth surfaces over which game pieces are to be projected and, more specifically, to a device for ressing the playing surfaces of bowling alleys, although not necessarily restricted thereto;

It is well known that the playing surface of a bowling alley requires it be given careful maintenance to insure that the bowling balls have a flat and uniform surface over which to travel. The surface itself must not only be free from defects, such as dents or low spots, but also must present an area having a uniform rolling or sliding surface which desirably is contributed by a (renewable) dressing or coating which should be of uniform thickness over the length traversed by the bowling ball.

Various devices for applying such a dressing have been proposed and tried. Often a dressing solution is sprayed onto the playing surface and spread about by a fiat surfaced member; however, the surface is not uniformly covered by the spray and such initial deposits of dressing liquids then are not easily spread out to secure a perfectly uniform surface layer.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a device by which the dressing solution is applied as a uniform film over the width of the playing surface of the bowling alley and promptly thereafter wiped over by a sliding member engaging the deposited layer only to insure that no high spots may remain therein.

A further object is to provide a playing surface dressing device in which the dressing solution is supplied to a soft surfaced member as it is rolled over the playing surface, such solution extending substantially across the length thereof, with the dressing solution being automati cally delivered as a continuous thin film to the rotating face so as to cause the soft surfaced member to deposit the dressing as a film of uniform and minimum thickness onto the playing surface while being rolled forwardly thereover. Yet another feature interrupts the wick feed when the applicator roller is elevated from rolling contact with the playing surface.

Another object of the invention is to transfer the dressing solution from a tank to a member rolled over the playing surface, by capillary action through a fabric feed member selectively withdrawable from operative contact with the applicator roller.

A still further object is to provide a playing surface dressing device of simple and efficient design comprising a plurality of components advantageously mounted on a frame and easy of fabrication from inexpensive materials, such as wood and metal, the components also being of simple form readily attached to or removed from the frame in assembling the device or adjusting the positions of the components on the frame.

Yet another purpose is to provide the wiping member with a tensioned, face-covering of strip or sheet material adapted to have successive clean or unused areas of the strip disposed in frictional juxtaposition with the wiper face. If desired, such movement of the sheet may be intermittently efiected by pedal manipulation of a drive sprocket connected to a draw roll, which winds upon itself the used strip of material initially derived from a replaceable supply roll.

A further object is to effect the provision of a sliding wiper member or drag bar which is selectively disposable in full face-contact with the playing surface or alternately is disposable in edge contact therewith; a third position Patented Eept. 29, lfi4 wherein the wiper is completely elevated off the playing surface can be eifected by simply tilting the frame a small amount toward the applicator roller.

An additional purpose is to provide a balanced assembly which by means of a rigid handle member can be readily tilted toward the roller member or toward the wiper member so as to hold the other member up off the fioor while moving the contacting member func tionally along the playing surface. Still another feature is the provision of means, exemplified by a forward pair of runners adapted selectively to elevate the forward portion of the assembly, including the applicator roller, olf the playing surface and automatically interrupt the wick feed of dressing solution thereto.

Other objects, advantages, and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detail description, and the appended claims.

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of my device with a portion in the lower right broken away to show internal construction;

FEGURE 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view as seen from the right of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view thru the device as viewed in FIGURE 3 but with the oil-applying roller elevated from the floor by the downswung forward runners, and also with the oil supplying wick member raised from contact with the roller, the rear dragbar thus being disposed in maximum surface contact for wiping the floor;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the rear of half of the forward housing showing one of the pair of oil supply tanks as seen along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FlGURE 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken thru the oil supply member along the line 6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view thru one end of the wiper member or drag-bar taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 8 is an axial sectional view thru the foot ratchet and adjacent draw roll of wiping material, the unwinding sheet of which is intermittently moved across the contact face of the drag-bar from the supply roll as seen in FIGURE 3.

In the present embodiment of the invention, there is a frame or casing 1% consisting of a forward, transverse, iiat top, housing 11 and vertically disposed, rearward extending side arms l2, 13 which serve as supports for a rear pair of transverse strip-carrying rolls 7t), 72 and for the mutually parallel drag-bar or wiper member 43, as subsequently described. An angularly rising, operating handle 14 is rigidly secured to the top of the forward housing 11 by a mounting bracket 15. A forward, transverse roller member 17 is journalled between a parallel pair of vertically downward projecting suspension arms 16, 18 which are secured to inset sides of the frame 19. The roller 1'7 is thus somewhat shorter than the maximum width of the frame and is constructed of an inner tubular element 19 rotatably mounted by axial trunnions 2t 21 to the arms l5, l8 and provided with a surrounding roll of resilient character such as sponge rubber 22. A pair of arcuately swinging struts 23, 24 are each pivotally connected at one end 25, 26 to the respective suspension arm 16, 18, and carry roller support means such as a floor-contacting wheel 27, 28 on their free end. When the forward roller 17 is supported upon the floor 9, the wheels 27, 28 are in trailing or non-supporting position (PEG. 3) and their parallel struts are angularly disposed. However, each pivoted strut 23, 24 also carries a transverse detent arm 29 (FIGS. 34), the rear inturned end 39 of which is disposed to abut against the rear vertical edge of the ad- U I w jacent suspension arm 1-6 or 18 so .as then to retain the struts 23, 24 upright parallel to the adjacent arm 16 or 13, thus raising the roller 17 off the floor 9 and supporting the forward portion of the tilted frame 11 solely In such positionjthe assembly on the wheels 27, 28; can be drawn by the handle 14 to'. the rear (ie to the right in FIGURE 4): for a'purpose to be described.

Upon reversal of direction, the unit dr'ops'downupon the forward roller'17, andthe pivoted wheels revert-to their trailing position of FEGURE 3, the detent arm 29, being out ofengagernent with the uprights 16, 18.1.

The rear portion of the frarne or casting 11 has dependently afdxed'betweenthe lower margins 'of the sides 12-;

13. as by. screws 57, 58' along each side,a t'ransverse wiper member 43 constructed of a longitudinal, inverted U- shaped, cross channel 59 to the lateralarrns'of which are secured a flat mounting platedas by screws 61, e2; 7

The latter also attaches a transverse backing member .63,0f'wood or the like, to which is aflixed as by adhesive or cement, a transverse wiping element 64 of compressible material as sponge rubber or the like. having a transversely. continuous face.

The compressible wiper 64 is somewhat wedge: shaped in transverse section, with a normally angularly disposed, contact surface GS'adapted to be disposed. in juxtaposition to'the fiooring surface 9, at such time asthe forward. portion of the frame is elevated, as by beingheld up by the runners 27, 28. Alternately when the forward, applicator roller 17 is self-supported upon the playing surface 9, the sliding wiper fi'is accordingly tilted forward (FIG.

3 as compared with'FlG. 4) so that only the forward portion oflesser-fioor-conta tarea or relatively narrow lead edge of the generally flat bottom contact face wipes the surface. move the device along theplaying surface with only the applicator roller 17 functionally contactin the .same,. the'whole frame 11 can'be tilted forward by slight as paper or cloth) frictionally overlying the contact sur-' 7 face 65 of the wiper member 4-3 so as to be pressedagainst the playing surface 9 by more or less resilient pressure or weight of the sponge rubber 64-and associated structures. In such manner, the sliding or wiping action of the sheet material as picks up anyexcess of liquid floor dressing laid down by the applicator roller 17." In addition, even at times other than'the application of fresh dressing material, the wiper d l with its facing strip s'may be dusted across/the playing surface to wipe it clean of extraneous matter whether'moist V or dry.

A pair of rollers '70, .72 are rotatably mounted between opposite sides 12, 13 of the frame, generally parallel-to the wiping member 43 and at somewhat'of an elevation thereabove, whereby sheetfmaterial wound about the supi ply r0117!) may be drawn down to underlie the contactface 65 and thence directed upward therefrom to the draw roller 72. Each of the pair of rollers is mutually restrained against free rotation so as to'maintain the facing sheet 68: under tension and thereby hold it relatively snugly against the contact face 65. Simultaneoustensioning of the two rollers, 70,72 is simply effectedby a corresponding'pair of split collars 71, 73 (FIG. 1)- mounted on the respective shafts 6-6, 67, with their split ends held together and inter-connected by a transverse compression or coil spring 69.

7 From time'to time it is desired to withdraw the soiled area of the strip es from the contact surface 65 by winding it on'the draw roll 72, and for this purpose there is provided a pedal operated, sprocket drive 74 consisting As a third position when'it is desired tocontinuous supply to'ithe. rotating face r32 during opera;

tion, there is provided a detachable zfollowerltlsj termi-rw nally mountedupon a leverrod 110-which is'apertured .most use.

t} 7 essentially of a pivot arm 76 mounted at 78 and tensioned-upward by'spring member 89 to normal abutment with a generally horizontal detent pin 82. A

dependent dog 84 is disposed to contact, in driving relation, successive sprockets of a rotary plate 86 affixed to the shaft 67 of the. draw .roll, so that a depressionof the foot pedal9il'willdrive the roll-72 in the desired direction of winding or drawing the sheet material 68 to locate a clean' or unused area of the wiping material 63 adjacent the contact face 65 of the draw bar.

This arrangement allows the substitution of: different sheets or rolls ef-facing material forthe draw bar-43 so that the sponge rubber'body- 64-is kept relatively clean.

However, alternately,-the sheet material can be--eliminated, either from time'to-time or permanently, anddirect contact effected between the--w-iping element 64 and theplaying surface 9; inwhichcasethe detachable mountof the drag bar assembly'is itself replaced from time to time by merely unfastening thescrews 61-, .62;

For such use, the wiper body-645s usually providedwith a coveringSs: of fiannelonthelik'e: Also other material than sponge rubber may housed for th'erwiping;

element 64, particularly when usedfto wipe more-abrasive surfaces (egi concrete onstone) than? that of'a' bowling alley; t

The upper transverse face of'the'castingpalong its rear margin extends vertically'downward to provide a cross-member 92, toxthe-- posterior or outer face of whichis hingedly mounted as by upright hanger straps- 94; a

transverse bracket arm 95 (FIG: 5) having forward extending arms 98, 99 between whichone or more supply tanks. 33 are -pivotally suspended; As here: illustrated, an independent supply tank is provided for each half: of the wiping'areaof-the roller'17, since :it is-often'de sirable to treat (more frequently) one half of'theplaying surface,- such as the'righ't half whichreceivesth'e Each container 33'is conveniently a cylin drical chamber having an upper supply" nozzle and closure 100', and being mounted by. it's-sends lengthwise? between the arms 98, 99*which are; held in a forward position by. a'spring 97;. Each container fins-generally.-

r-adiallytraversedby a'longitudinal, outward'extending, generally rigid plate 162; the outward projecting'portionof which'is overlayed witha downturned 'Li-shaped shield 104 EtiiiXEd tothe cylindrical body 33'and:connected by a helical spring 106 to i the cross. member 92 so as jointly to tilt upward theLcompQSite unit 33-104; The

stiffening plate 102. is. sandwichedwvithin' an elongated" wick element 37 which thus extends into. the interior of "the tank-33 andlby 'capillary action" draws out'and transfers liquid dressing .material'frorn its exposed underface 42 to theouter facing cover 3250f the forward applicator roller '17. i

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the springltldin the ;ab= sence of'any opposing force, holds? the transferLfaceof the wick element 42 elevated fromicontact with the appli cator roller; Accordingly, in'orderto maintaintcontact of the wick'with the applicator rolIer 17 and provide a for mounting upon a longitudinally spaced .pairof later-. ally projecting pins 112, 114:(FIGS; 6 and -3) disposed for thrust insertion and extending from the outer annular end 116' of the container 33. The aligned engagement.

pins 112, 114 are so placed that pressure of the floor surface 9 against the roller 108 causesthe leverarm 110' to swing the container 33 and wick. 42'downto be slidinglyengaged by the: rotating applicator covering 32,. overcoming theopposing'tensionof the spring. 106. This continues only as long as the follower108 is held against the floor 9, For functional disengagement of the wick assembly 104, the roller 108 andlever arm 110 may be.

simply withdrawn from'the attachment pins 112, 114- and the unit 108, 110' thrust beneatha resilient clasp.

member 118 atop the casting for retention until further use. Alternately, when the follower remains attached to the container wall 116 and the frame raised upon the runners 27, 28 (elevating the applicator roller 17 from floor contact) the wick 42 is no longer held against the applicator covering 32 by the lever arm 11 but the container 33 is rotated upward by the spring 105.

I claim:

1. In a floor treating device of the character described, having a frame carried by a transverse, cylindrical, applicator roller and a generally parallel, wiper member each adapted selectively by tilting of said frame to functionally contact the floor as the device is moved along, the improvement comprising in combination therewith: a pair of wheels laterally spaced apart and carried by said device adjacent opposite ends of said roller, each wheel being mounted on a stunt movably secured to said device for alternate location between extended and retracted positions wherein respectively the floor-engaged wheels sup port said frame with the roller elevated off the floor, and wherein the retracted wheels leave the roller sel supporting on the floor; a container for a supply of liquid dressing movably mounted on said frame adjacent to said roller, wick means extending from said container for supplying liquid dressing to said roller, means for moving said container in one direction to disengage the wick from the roller and means extending from the container and adapted to engage a contacted floor when the roller is self supporting on the floor to move the container in the opposite direction to cause the wick to contact the roller.

2. In combination with a floor treating device of the character described, having a frame carried by a transverse, cylindrical, applicator roller, a floor contacting Wiper member mounted on said frame generally parallel to said roller and being provided with two downwardly facing angularly related front and rear floor contacting surfaces, an operating handle rigidly secured to said frame, said surfaces being arranged to alternately engage a floor being treated by moving said handle to tilt the rear end of the frame either upwardly or downwardly as the device is moved along the floor, said front surface being positioned to contact the floor when the applicator roller is in contact therewith, a pair of supply and draw rolls respectively disposed along opposite longitudinal sides of said wiper member and adapted to dispose a tensioned sheet of wiping material jointly between them frictionally overlying both floor-contact faces of said member, and operative means for intermittently drawing a fresh area of said material over said contact face of the wiper member from the supply roll to the draw roll.

3. In combination with a floor treating device of the character described, having a frame carried by a transverse, cylindrical, applicator roller, a floor contacting wiper member mounted on said frame generally parallel to said roller and being provided with two downwardly facing angularly related front and rear floor contacting surfaces, said surfaces being arranged to alternately engage a floor being treated by tilting the rear end of the frame either upwardly or downwardly as the device is moved along the floor, said front surface being positioned to contact the floor when the applicator roller is in contact therewith, a pair of wheels laterally spaced apart and carried by said device adjacent opposite ends of said roller, each wheel being mounted on a strut movably secured to said device for alternate location between extended and retracted positions wherein respectively the floor-engaged wheels support said frame with the roller elevated off the door, and wherein the retracted wheels leave the roller selfsupporting on the floor; fluid supply means carried by said frame, another floor-contact element carried by the device in position to be operatively floor-engageable only when said roller is floor-supported, and which in such position is adapted to activate continuous,

capillary flow of liquid floor dressing to said roller from the fluid supply means; a pair of supply and draw rolls respectively disposed along opposite longitudinal sides of said wiper member and adapted to dispose a tensioned sheet of wiping material jointly between them frictionally overlying the fioor-contact face of said member, and operative means for intermittently drawing a fresh area of said material over said contact face of the wiper member from the supply roll to the draw roll.

4. In a floor treating device of the character described, having a frame carried by a transverse, cylindrical, applicator roller and a generally parallel, wiper member each adapted selectively to functionally contact the floor as the device is moved along, the improvement comprising in combination therewith: floor-contact means for elevating said applicator roller oi the floor and simultaneously locating said wiper member at a position disposing a mar-1imum area for sliding contact with the floor, a container for a supply of liquid dressing movably mounted on said frame adjacent to said roller, wick means extending from said container for supplying liquid dressing to said roller, means for moving said container in one direction to dis engage the wick from the roller and means extending from said container and adapted to engage a contacted floor to move the container in the opposite direction to cause the wick to contact the roller when the roller is in floor engagement.

5. A device for applying a liquid dressing to the playing surface of a bowling alley, comprising in combination: a frame having a leading and a following end; a freely rotatable cylindrical roller extending across the leading end of the frame and having an absorbent cover-.

ing disposed in contact with said playing surface and adapted to transfer a predetermined thickness of liquid dressing to the surface by rolling registration therewith; a container for a supply of liquid dressing mounted on said frame; transversely disposed wick means substantially coextensive with the length of said absorbent covering and adapted to convey continuously a measuredlamonnt of said dressing from the container lengthwise along the coated cylindrical roller in amount corresponding to the quantity adapted to be continually transferred to the playing surface upon rotation of the roller; said wick being extended into said container, said container being movably secured to said frame, means for moving the container and wick alternately as a unit in one direction to permit the wick to contact the roller and means to move the container and wicl: unit in the opposite direction to disengage the wick from the roller, a wiper member mounted across the following end of the frame for sliding Contact with the playing surface; and roller support means for selectively elevating the rotatable cylinder from floor contact and thus disposing only the wiper member in sliding registration with said floor.

6. The device of the preceding claim 5 which additionally contains a draw sheet of wiping material removably mounted across the contact surface of said wiper memher.

7. The device of the preceding claim 5 which additionally contains a pair of supply and draw rolls respectively disposed along opposite longitudinal sides of said wiper member and adapted to dispose a tensioned sheet of wiping material jointly between them frictionally overlying the floor-contact face of said member, and operative means for intermittently drawing a fresh area of said material over said contact face of the wiper member from the supply roll to the draw roll.

8. A device for applying a liquid dressing to the playing surface of a bowling alley, com rising in combination: a frame having a leading end and a following end disposed transverse to the playing surface; a freely rotatable cylindrical roller extending across the leading end of the frame, having an absorbent covering disposed in contact with said playing surface and adapted to transfer a predetermined thickness of liquid dressing to the surface a by rolling registration therewith; a-container for a supply' of liquididressing pivotally mountedon such frame adjacent said cylindrical roller and functionally asso ciated longitudinally extending wick means adapted to continuously convey a measuredrarnount of said dressing from the container lengthwise along the covered cylin-r dricalroller in amount corresponding to the quantity adapted to be continually transferred to the playing surface upon rotation of the roller; resilient means adapted normally to hold said wick means disengaged from said" cylindrical roller; a floor contacting runner adapted selectively to maintain 'said wick means and roller in functional engagement bypositionjng'the pivoted container as long as the roller and runner are'b'oth directly supported upon the floor; a wiper member mountediacross the following end'of the frame for sliding contact with the playing surface, having an angularly disposed, compressible floorcontactsurface adapted alternately for edgecontact and for complete juxtaposition with the surface depending 7 upon angular disposition of'said frame; an upstanding,

rigidly. mountedrhandle secured to the frame, by use of which the device can be moved along the playing surface with both its cylindrical roller and its wiper member in functional contact therewith, and alternately, by a small amount of tiltingjof the frame by the handle toward 'one' member or the other, permitting the'deviceto be moved along, the surface supported" only by such one member thus disposed in functional engagement with said surface; a pair of supply anddraw rolls rotatably mounted between said frame arms and respectively disposed adjacent opposite longitudinal sides of said wipingrnember, and 1 adapted to dispose a tensioned' sheet of wiping material jointly between them frictionally overlying the floor-contact face of said member; and sprocket means carried by said frame and adapted by driving connection with said draw roll for intermittently drawing a fresh area of said sheet material over the contact face of the'wiping member from the supply roll to the draw roll.

9; A device for applying a'liquid dressing to a floor and comprising in combination: a frame having a leading end and a following end; an applicator roller extending across the leading end of the frame, having an absorbent covering disposed in contact with said floorand adapted to transfer a predetermined thickness of liquid dressing to the floor surface by rolling registration therewith; a container for a supply of liquid dressing mountedon said frame adjacent said'roller, and functionallyassociated, longit'u-i dinally extending transversily, disposed I wick means" sub: stantially coextensive with the length of said absorbent covering and adapted to continuously, convey by'capillary action a measured amount of said dressingfrom 'thecon t ainer, lengthwise along the covered 'roller in' amounteon responding tothe quantity adapted to be continually transferred to the floor surface upon rotation oftheroller when the roller is in contact with'the floor surface-a spring means for rnovingsaid containerto a positionto disengage thewickfrom the roller and other means de pending from the container positioned'to engage a' contacted floor for'rnoving the container to a position to cause the wick to contact 'theroller.

10. The device of the preceding" claim 9 which' also" includes a wiper member mounted'across the following- 7 end of the frame for sliding contact with the floor; having an angularly disposed, compressible floor=contact surface" adapted alternately for edge contact'and for complete juxtaposition with the fl'oordepending upon angular dis position of-said frame; and rollersupport means for selectively elevating the rotatable cylinderfrom'fl'oor contact a and thus disposing the wiper member incomplete juxtaposition for sliding registrationwith' said floor, with said wick means disengaged from said'roller.

ReferencesCitedin the file of this patent 

4. IN A FLOOR TREATING DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRINED, HAVING A FRAME CARRIED BY A TRANSVERSE, CYLINDRICAL, APPLICATOR ROLLER AND A GENERALLY PARALLEL, WIPER MEMBER EACH ADAPTED SELECTIVELY TO FUNCTIONALLY CONTACT THE FLOOR AS THE DEVICE IS MOVED ALONG, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING IN COMBINATION THEREWITH: FLOOR-CONTACT MEANS FOR ELEVATING SAID APPLICATOR ROLLER OFF THE FLOOR AND SIMULTANEOUSLY LOCATING SAID WIPER MEMBER AT A POSITION DISPOSING A MAXIMUM AREA FOR SLIDING CONTACT WITH THE FLOOR, A CONTAINER FOR A SUPPLY OF LIQUID DRESSING MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME ADJACENT TO SAID ROLLER, WICK MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID CONTAINER FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID DRESSING TO SAID ROLLER, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CONTAINER IN ONE DIRECTION TO DISENGAGE THE WICK FROM THE ROLLER AND MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID CONTAINER AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A CONTACTED FLOOR TO MOVE THE CONTAINER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO CAUSE THE WICK TO CONTACT THE ROLLER WHEN THE ROLLER IS IN FLOOR ENGAGEMENT. 